Venetian blind



Patented Dec., 28, 1937 amarsi -vnnu'rian n f n William Wade, Chicago, lll., assigner toNational k Co., chll'ordl, ill., a coranon of lare Application February 2l, i935, Serial No. 7,52% n claims. (ci. 15e-rz) My invention relates to Venetian blinds composed of comparatively thin slats of any desired width and length collapsibly secured together by suitable pliable means tov permit the respective 5 slats of the blind to be successively drawn upwardly toward the top of the window or other opening.

.My invention has for its object the provision of a Venetian blind wherein the respective elements constituting the blind are removably secured in place and any slat of the blind may be readily removedfor repair or replacement without in any way disturbing the rest of the blind, thus leaving the blind, minus the removed slat or slats, to remain intact and to be operated in its usual manner until the damaged slat or slats have been repaired or replaced; the repaired or new slat being inserted in place without disy mantling the blind.

Another object of my invention is the provision of blinds which may be readily assembled by any one and which requires no sewing or nailing of parts; and wherein the control of the blind or of its slats requiresa lesser number of pull cords than heretofore and such control all accomplished from one side of the blind;

l Another object of my invention is the provision of a blind wherein a number of controls for each slat is provided and the slats made to 3o pile up or collapse uniformly when the blind is raised and hence provide -a neater appearing blind.

The aforementioned objects and the advantages, as Well as others inherent in the invention, will be more readily comprehended from the following detailed description of the accoml panying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional plan taken through a window structure showing the invention associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of my invention, with intermediate portions broken away. Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating a tilted condition of the slats of the blind. Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the slat holding clips, shown inverted. u

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of a portion of a slat and showing a modied form of slat holding element. Figure 6 is a detail perspective of the clip holding element shown in Figure 5. i

The. specific exemplication of the invention as disclosed in the drawing comprises a top rail or piece I0 of preselected'width and thickness and 5 of length in keeping with the width of the window opening as outlined by the window frame Il I. As this top rail lll is the supporting member for the entire blind, it must be rigid and of sufiicient strength and hence is shown comparatively heavy as can more clearly be seen in Figures 2 and 3. Each end of this top .rail is provided with a suitable supporting pin at I2, which enters through the open end of the slot in bracket member Ill. The pins I2 and the bracket members I3 are of the well known type employed with or- 10 dinary roll type of window-shades.

One end of the top rail is provided with a pulley shaped extension I4 having rigid connection with the toprail so as to cause the top rail I0 to os-- cillate 'with rotary movement of the extension I4. 15

At suitably spaced places and on each longitudinal side, the top rail' I0 is provided with small pulleys or grooved rollers I5 which are preferably inset in the sides o f the rail with their axes disposed in directions transversely of the top rail 20 in order that the grooves of the pulleys may be disposed in a direction lengthwise of the rail.

The sides of the top rail I0 are preferably provided withl the cut out portions or channels I6 of depth sufficient to receive the pulleys or grooved 25 rollers I5; the channels extending from top to bottom of the rail I0 as can be more clearly seen in Figure 2.

The top rail I0 on opposite sides is provided with small hooks 21 whose purpose will bel later 30 described. y

The blind consists of a plurality of comparatively thin slats I8 preferably of wood and of uniform dimensions; the slats being spaced apart a distance approximating the width of the slats so that 35 when the slats are tilted to the maximum degree, vision through the-blind will be entirely shut off. The number of slats to a blind, therefore, will depend upon the height of the window or other opening; Vand. in order to provide sufcient weight 40 to ensure the blind dropping down to open position, the blind is provided with a bottom rail I9 of width and length equal to that of the slats I8. As a means for holding the slats I8 and at. the same time permit them to be readily removed and 45 replaced. I provide metal clips 20 shown in detail in Figure 4. These clips of somewhat U-shape in cross section are preferably made of steel with sulcient resiliency to permit the two jaws or sides 2l, 22 to be yieldingly spread apart in order that 50 the clips may be applied to the longitudinal edges; the free ends of the jaws preferably slightly curve toward each other so as to effect a firm holding or binding relation with the slats as shown in Figures 2 and 3. 55

One jaw or side of the clips, namely jaw 2|, is slit toward and into the curved end of the clip as shown at 23, 23, and the partially severed metal bent outwardly so as to provide the hook-shaped tongues 24, 24, whose free ends are slightly curved toward the main body of the clip so as to restrict the throat of the opening or space between the tongues and the main body of the clip.

In the exemplication disclosed in the first four figures of the drawing, the blind is shown provided with the slat holding tapes 25, 25 of preselected color, Width and length, namely of length sufficient to extend from the top rail down to the bottom rail when the blind is in complete lowered condition. These tapes 25, 25, at equally spaced distances apart, are each provided with small holes to receive the eye portions of the buttons 26, which are preferably arranged in pairs and the corresponding pairs arranged in horizontal alignment.

The buttons 26 having been inserted from the4 front of the tapes through the holes, the eyes of these buttons are then passed or hooked over the hook-shaped tongues 24 of the clips 28 which have previously been slipped onto the longitudinal edges of the slats; the tapes, of which there are at least four-two on each side of the blind-also have their ends provided with similar buttons whose eyes are secured to the hooks 21 screwed into the top rail and into the bottom rail.

As shown in the drawing,'the tapes with the buttons, in conjunction with the clips, hold the slats in proper spaced relation, while at the same time forcing the slats to follow the movement of the tapes.

The pulley extension I4, at one end of the top rail I0, is provided with a cord 28 tightly wound thereabout or controllingly' secured thereto and the two strands oi.' the cord (one passing down'- wardly from each side of the pulley extension I4) pass downwardly along the side of the window frame, preferably through a suitable guide member (not shown), and the strands of the cord 28 wound from opposite sides about a rotatably mounted spool or hand knob 30 secured to the room side of the window frame approximately at the bottom of the window.

With the strands of cord 28 tightly wound about the pulley extension I4 of top rail I0 and about the hand grasping knob or spool 30, rotary movement of the knob 3II-will cause one strand to wind up on the knob or spool while the other strand unwinds therefrom and as a result oscillatory movemerit will be imparted to the top rail I so as to either tilt the forward room-side longitudinal edge of the top rail downwardly or upwardly. With `the ends of the tapes 25 connected to the top rail and through the medium of the buttons and clips to the slats as well as to the bottom rail it will be apparent that all of the slats I8 and bottom rail I9 will tilt in the samedirection as the top rail.

In order to raise the blind I provide a cord 3|, one end whereof is secured to the side of bottbm rail I9 rearward of tape 25 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. This cord 3| is led upwardly between the two tongues 24 of the clips 28 arranged in the same vertical plane,-the cord thus being maintained in proper position-and passed over the pulley or grooved roller I at the forward side of top rail III and then led along the top of the top rail I0, through a slot Way or opening 32 in the upstanding end wall 33 of the rail I0;

The opposite side of the blind, and directly opposite cord 3| is provided with a cord 34 whose lower end is likewise secured to thebottom rail I9 and passes upwardly between the tongues 24 of the respective clips 20 at the rear side of the blind, and thence over pulley or grooved roller I5 and along the top of rail I0 and through the slot '32 in the rail-end 33.

Adjacent the other end of the blind are similar cords 35 and 36 on the forward and rearward sides of the blind; the lower ends of these cords being likewise secured to the bottom rail member I9, thence passed upwardly between the tongues 24 of the respective clips 20 and over pulleys or grooved rollers I5, I5, and then through the slotway 32 of the end wall extension 33 of the top rail. That. is to say, all the cords 3|, 34, 35 and 36 lead to the same end ,of the top rail and through the end wall extension and all of lengthsumcient to extend approximately half way down the window when the shade is in complete lowered position.

In order that the cords may be kept in proper position, on their respective rollers, I show the top rail provided with suitable guides as at 31 through which the cords pass; and the free ends of the cords 3|, 34, 35 and 36 are all united and secured in the finger grasping pear shaped member 38, see Figure 2.

The cords 3|,'34, v35 and 36 all pass over a suitable grooved wheel or pulley 39 secured to the window frame or casing II at a point in line with the slotway 32 in the top rail end wall extension 33; and at prearranged places the cords 3|,' 34, 35 and 36 are all knotted together into a single line as it were.

With the various pull cords 3| 34, 35 and 38 all arranged between the tongues 24, 24 of the respective clips on each slat, these cords will be kept in proper vertical position and direct upward pull on the lower rail I9 exerted, with the result that the slats will pile up in the even or aligned condition shown in Figure 2, while the tapes will also assume comparatively uniform bellows-folds and thus present a neat appearing blind. These conditions are not obtainable'with Venetian blinds as now generally made. Then, too, it is apparent that control of the blind may be entirely accomplished from the same side of the window without interfering with window drapes when employed; control of the blind, as for example a tilting of the slats in keeping with the light desired may be accomplished by a slight oscillation of the knob 30.

In order to protect the pulleys and cords on the top'rail III I show the top rail provided with the arcuate cover member 43 which iltsC against the end extension 33 and completely houses the pulleys I5 and the cords on top of rail I0;' this cover member 43 being removably secured in place to permit access to the pulleys and cords when necessary.

In order to provide a. more durable blind and thus adapt it for use in institutions or outside porches and the like, I illustrate in Figure 5 a different type of slat holding means consisting of a suitable comparatively light chain 44 which may be substituted for the 'tapes 25 of Figure 2. The chain 44 at predetermined spaced points is provided with contractible loop members 45 whose ends are disposed outwardly and laterally at 45il to.pass through the openings in vthe chain links and to hook back of the opposite sides of the links as shown in Figure 5. The loop membersv are made of resilient material to permit suillcient contraction and when released cause 75 the ends to spring apart into holding relation with the chain links. The loop members are also preferably given some width so as to prevent possibility of twisting. The loop members are intended to snap onto the'tongues 2l of the slat holding clip 209; the clip 2mn-like those heretofore described, being forced onto the longitudinal edges of the slats I8. With the construction shown in Figure 5- each clip may,l if desired, merely be provided with a single tongue 24, al'- though two tongues are preferable and will prevent twisting. The pull cords 3i, $4, I6 and 36 may be passed through the respective loop members 45 and thereby be held in proper position rearward of the chains N where they are not apt to be interfered with.

The flexible element or chain M preferably consists of small links which will permit the links' to fold more or less uniformly onto each other and outwardly from the slats.

That is to say, the type of chain which I prefer to employ is that shown in Figure 5. wherein the links are formed from atl metal blanks somewhat of hour-glass formation, with the end portions provided with suitablesized openings and the blanks folded upon themselves so as to arrange the ends parallel with each other; the

' links being joined by passing one end of a blank or link through the aligned openings in the folded blank'and then bending the first mentionecl blank so as to bring its two ends into parallel relation. The ends of the loop members 45 are inserted through the registering openings of the two ends of a link and secured or clamped thereto so as to maintain the loop members in moreor less rigid position substantially at right angles to` the chain proper as shown, in order that the loops may not fold against the chains and thus eiect binding relation with the pullcords. l

When desired the chains may be sprayed or painted the same color as the slats or any desirable color, thus also making the chains rust proof.

As is apparent from the constructions shown and described, my invention in reality makes an assembly job which eliminates the necessity for any sewing or nailing and also obviates the work of providing each slat with transversely disposed suitable sized pull-cord receiving slots whereby the slats are also weakened. Furthermore, with my improved blind, control of the slant of the slats may be had without the necessity of moving draperies; and theraised positions or conditions may be arranged as the user desires by simply providing the composite cord I2 with a knot and then sliding a spherical member down onto the knot so as to enclose or cover the knots and provide means, in conjunction with a slot in the knob or control member 3l, for holding the blind in the desired raised position.

Suitable means may be provided to keep the blind from thrashing itself back and forth during a strong wind and will keep the blind in proper shading position. V

It is also apparent from the const \ction shown, that in the event a slat I8 becomes broken. this slat may be easily removed without the necessity of disturbing the pull-cords and hence without the necessity of disturbing the other slats of the blind; the removal being accomplished by simply sliding the clips oi the slat which may be accomplished without disconnecting the clips from the supporting tapes 2i, 25, or chains 44, whichever are in use.

In using the more or less ornamental buttons 26 with the tapes 25, instead of a well known type of small eye members, it is apparent that the need of ,sewing eyes or loops on the tapes is obviated, as the eye portions of the buttons 26 are simply forced through small holes punched in`the tape.

The exemplications disclosed clearly show the advantages of my invention and the simplicity of its assembly, wherein any element of the blind may be easily replaced without the destruction or complete dissembly of the blind and as a result a longer lived construction provided; an'd the illustrations are believed to be the simplest embodiments of the invention, but alterations are possible and may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is: l

1. In a blind of the character described provided with supporting chains, a slat holding clip of resilient sheet metal bent into substantially U-shape and adapted to frictionally slip onto a vlongitudinal edge of a slat, one side of the U- shape clip being slit toward the base and said partially severed portion bent outwardly to provide an integral hook shaped spring tongue,- and a contractible loop member adapted to engage the tongue and to effect holding relation with a link of said supporting chain.

2. In a blind of the character described provided with slat supporting chains, a slat holdingv clip of substantially U-shape cross-section 'adaptl ed to be slipped `onto a longitudinal edgeiof a slat and provided with a hook-shaped tongue, and a resilient open ended loop member, the loop portion whereof is adapted to engagef the tongue, while the ends of the member are adapted to pass through a link of the supporting chain and are bent outwardly to engage the opposite sides of the chain-link.

3. In a Venetian blind of the character described, slat supporting chains composed of Hat blanks apertured at opposite. ends and folded back upon themselves with the intermediate portions of the links disposed through the apertures of the parallelly arranged ends of the adjacent links; loop members arranged at predetermined spaced points throughout the lengths of said chains and rigidly secured to the links so as to extend with the planeof its opening at substantially right angles to the chains; and resilient slat holding clips adapted to be edgewisely forced o nto the slats and provided with loop member receiving portions'whereby the slats are removably and pivotally supported in place relative to said chains.

4. In a blind of the character described, `slat holding means comprising supporting chains provided at prearranged points with rigidly held loops disposed at right angles to the chains and with their openings facing in the direction in which the chain extends, slat gripping clips adapted to bev forced edgewisely onto the slats and arranged to pivotally engage said loops and thereby secure the slats to the chains.

5. In a blind of the character described, the combination of slat supporting chains; loop mem- Ibers arranged at predetermined spaced points throughout the lengths of said chains and each secured to a link of said chains so as to extend rigidly at right angles therefrom; and removable slat holding clips adapted to be edgewisely forced onto the slats and to effect pivotal holding relation with said loop members.

6. In a blind of the character described comprising a plurality of slats; flexible supporting means for the slats provided with spaced loops or eyes; slat holding elements formed to eiect frictional gripping relation with portions of the slats adjoining their longitudinal edges and means rigidly attached to said loops or eyes and having pivotal holding relation with said holding elements.

7. In a blind of the character described, exible slat controlling elements certain of which are provided with rigidly held and laterally disposed loops or eyes supportably engaging slat holding means and effective to guide certain of said flexible elements during the up and down movement thereof, substantially as described.

8. In a blind of the class described having iiexible-slat supporting elements and also flexible slat control elements, slat holding means in the form of a clip removably slidable over an-edge of a slat for supporting engagement with the latter, and a loop member supportably engaged by said clip and rigidly secured to one of said exible supporting elements and extending from the same in a lateral direction with the ,open part of the loop facing the direction in which said exible element extends, so as to permit the passage therethrough of one of said control elements.

9. In a blind of the type described provided with supporting and control chains, slat supporting means in the form of a U-shaped clip removably slidable onto an edge of a slat, a supporting loop having end portions passed through a link of one of said supportingl chains to secure said loop in laterally extended and substantially rigid relation to said chain, said loop hingedly engaging said clip when the latter 1s engaged on said slat, said loop further having its opening facing the direction in which the chain to which it is attached extends, so as .to permit the free passage and movement therethrough of one of said control chains.

10. In a Venetian blind having supporting chains, slat supporting means in the form of a U-shaped metal clip removably slidable onto an edge of a slat for supporting engagement-with the latter, a metal loopv having end portions inserted through a link of one of said chains, the body of said loop being suiliciently wide to prevent rotation of the same relative to said link and said end portions being bent to secure said loop in laterally extended substantially immovable relation to said link, said clip pivotally engaging said loop.

11. In a Venetian blind havinga supporting chain and a flexible control element, slat supporting means in the form of a U-shaped clip fitted onto an edge of a slat, a metal loop having free end portions extended through a link of said chain and bent to hold the loop in a substantially rigid and laterally extended condition relative to said link with the open part thereof disposed to guide. one of said control elements therethrough in back and forth movement in a direction substantially parallel to said supporting chain, said loop supportably engaging said clip.

WILLIAM WADE. 

